The Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) No Color

I came across your article on Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) looking to learn why my white ones planted from seed have no red color in the center as do the blue/purple and pink ones as do the original white flowered trees these seeds came from. Any ideas? Thanks!
  11 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 24, 2016
    When did you plant the rose of sharon that was started from seed? Did you buy seeds or took seed pods from existing flowers?
  • Rafael Lecuona DePiero Rafael Lecuona DePiero on Aug 24, 2016
    Thanks for your reply Janet. I planted them from my own seeds from my own trees which have a white flower with a red center. This was last year in the Spring. The new trees with white flowers have no red center, just plain white. I was wondering why. Thanks.
  • Pat415274 Pat415274 on Aug 24, 2016
    Seeds taken from a parent parent are not always exactly the same as the seeds can be a result of a cross pollination from another source. The only way to get a duplicate copy of your tree is to take cuttings.
  • Pat415274 Pat415274 on Aug 24, 2016
    Parent plant.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 24, 2016
    agreed with the parent cutting.However I would take the positive approach and see that you created another plant which is awesome.
  • Rafael Lecuona DePiero Rafael Lecuona DePiero on Aug 24, 2016
    Well then why do the blue and pink ones I've grown from seeds in the same way, have the red center but only the white ones do not?
  • Merrie Merrie on Aug 25, 2016
    I believe what you are seeing is a "recessive" gene affect. Seeds draw DNA from their ancestors so to speak. Plant and animal genetics work the same.
  • Judy Ann Judy Ann on Aug 25, 2016
    Sometimes if you start with a hybrid, you will end up with a plant like of the plants used to create the hybrid
  • Kathy Kathy on Aug 25, 2016
    That is a specific color for these plants. It is rarer than the red throated.
    • See 1 previous
    • Rafael Lecuona DePiero Rafael Lecuona DePiero on Aug 25, 2016
      All my blue and all my pinks have the red center, only the new whites are all white. Interesting.
  • Pam Walker Pam Walker on Aug 25, 2016
    Be thankful they're white. Get a gallon of water & put any color of food coloring in it. Water it for a few weeks with that same color & watch the white turn to that color. It works on white roses & white carnations. It might be alot of fun! :)
  • Sue Sanders Sue Sanders on Aug 26, 2016
    This same thing happened with the special blue tulips I ordered. The preceeding years they came back as white tulips. Very disappointed.